Lkunono, A blacksmith Clan of Samburu

Iron smelting industry is one of the world ancient industries. It started in Meroe in Southern Ethiopia and spread so rapidly to the rest of the world to an advance level where it has been acknowledged and embraced as one of the most important inventions ever made by civilization.
The iron was extracted from the black riverbed sand soil. This black sand soil is mostly found in arid areas after floods.
The iron making process was through melting. Sand soil was melted and chemically changed into strings of metals that even unaided eyes clearly see the product is iron.
Recently the blacksmith art work had grown to greater heights in northern Kenya cutting across all nomadic communities.
The art has played an important role in nomadic communities since weapons like spears,arrows and home basic kitchen utensils like Knives are made from iron melting.
Lkunono (blacksmith) is a clan of the Samburu, who are simultaneously feared and revered by other Samburu as they have special spiritual powers, and are depended upon for the survival of the tribe as a whole. They make the spear heads, knives and swords which all men carry for protection and without which the ceremonies that make ‘history’ constantly create itself could not take place
In Marsabit County, Log Logo area of Laisamis Sub-County, The famous Mzee Lenalbarta Lekuraki a smart blacksmith of the 21st Century practically carried out the chemistry part of the process under the close scrutiny of professors from Kenyatta University.
It’s still clear today for anyone who wants to see the shade where old man carried out the process can visit the region and get the testimonies from the neighbors and relatives of the old man who is in the history books having pioneered the industry in the Northern Kenya

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